Plans are underway by the Federal Government to launch a new programme aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s wheat-based consumer foods industry.
The new initiative focuses on production costs, enterprise competitiveness, financing, and the development of local value chains.
The initiative, ‘Project WHEAT-NESS’, targets improving the competitiveness of businesses across the industry, including millers, bakeries, food manufacturers, and Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs), amid Nigeria’s dependence on imported wheat.
Nigeria consumes and imports an estimated six to seven million metric tonnes of wheat yearly, exposing the industry to fluctuations in international commodity prices, foreign exchange conditions and supply-chain costs.
The office of the Minister of State for Industry under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment said the launch will bring together government officials, private-sector operators, financial institutions, research organisations and development partners in Abuja.
According to the ministry, WHEAT-NESS seeks to address constraints across the wheat-based foods value chain, from agricultural production and input supply to aggregation, milling, processing, baking, logistics, distribution and retail.
The initiative will operate through four intervention areas: value-chain development, enterprise development, a Made-in-Nigeria marketing campaign and a proposed Wheat-Based Consumer Foods Value Chain Development Fund.
